1775-1789

  • Lexington and Concord

    Lexington and Concord

    aka "Shot heard 'round the world"
    Initiated the Revolutionary War between British and Americans
    Thomas Gage sent troops to Concord to seize arsenal and they then make their way to Lexington where militiamen fire at British, killing many
  • Second Continental Congress

    Second Continental Congress

    Met in Philadelphia
    Decided George Washington to be appointed to lead Continental Army
    Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking up Arms
    Delegates met and agreed to support the war
  • George Washington named Commander in Chief

    George Washington named Commander in Chief

    The Continental Congress commisioned George Washington as Commander in Chief of Continental Army
    He had previous military experience for British and was chosen over other candidates such as John Hancock
  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    Battle of Bunker Hill

    Small American force under Benedict Arnold captured Bunker Hill and killed many British soldiers
    Ran out of gunpowder and had to retreat but put up a good fight
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence

    Congress adopts Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson
    Declares unalinable rights and all men created equal
  • Lord North decides to cut off New England

    Lord North decides to cut off New England

    Lord North thought of a new tactic to cut off New England from rest of colonies and therefore cutting off their supplies
  • Battle of Long Island

    Battle of Long Island

    Lord North orders General Howe(British) to capture NYC and Hudson river to cut off New England from rest of the colonies
    Washington and Continental Army retreated to New Jersey and and pushed to Pennsylvania by winter
  • Battle of Trenton

    Battle of Trenton

    Washington and army cross Delaware River into Trenton, New Jersey on in the winter on Christmas for a surprise attack
    Captured 1,000 Hessian solders who surrendured
  • Valley Forge

    Valley Forge

    Washington loses 3,000 soldiers to disease and 1,000 more to starvation
    200 officers resign, leaving him with 8,000 soldiers threatening to leave
    Baron von Steuben comes to train the army
  • Baron von Steuben

    Baron von Steuben

    Americans take him to turn the Continental Army more professional at Valley Forge
    Soldiers come out of Valley Forge more sophisticated due to his training
  • Nathanial Green- New Tactic

    Takes supplies from from townspeople and pays them back later with interest
    Quartermaster of Continental Army
  • Battle of Princeton

    Battle of Princeton

    Howe sent a force under Lord Cornwallis to capture Washington but he defeated them
    Washington's second successful battle in Revolutionary War
  • Battle of Saratoga

    Battle of Saratoga

    Burgoyne pushed northward and was surrounded by Continental Army led by Horatio Gates
    Burgoyne surrenders
    Turning point for the war
    French decided to aid Americans
  • French Alliance

    French Alliance

    Frenches pledges military support of Americans if they recognize their authority over the Caribbean
  • England's Reaction

    England's Reaction

    Parliament is panicking and passes a new act that repeals Intolerable Act and Tea Act
    Howe and Burgoyne return in shame
    Parliament recognizes it has no power to tax colonies
  • Henry Clinton

    Henry Clinton

    Takes over British forces
    Plan to starve out cash crop colonies
  • British take over Savannah, Georgia

    British take over Savannah, Georgia

    British forces under Henry Clinton invade Savannah, Georgia and create a British stronghold
    Creates the possibility of taking Charleston
  • Spain joins War

    Spain joins War

    Wants to take back Florida and a port in the Caribbean
    Doesn't send supplies, only a naval fleet
    Comes to Georgia and Florida to push British north
  • Philipsburg Proclamation

    Philipsburg Proclamation

    Henry Clinton
    Granted freedom to any slave if they abandoned their master
    30,000 slaves abandoned plantations for British protection
  • British invade Charleston

    British invade Charleston

    Under Henry Clinton, British forces from Savannah invade Charleston and it is taken by British
  • French arrive in Rhode Island

    French arrive in Rhode Island

    Marquis de Lafayette persuades King Luis to send 6,000 soldier to New Port, Rhode Island
    New York surrounded
  • Nathanael Greene Commander of Southern Army

    Nathanael Greene Commander of Southern Army

    Washington appoints Nathanael Greene commander of the southern army
  • Articles of Confederation Adopted

    Articles of Confederation Adopted

    Granted limited powers to central government and most power went to the states
    Replaced by Consitution later
  • Battle at Guilford County Courthouse

    Battle at Guilford County Courthouse

    British forces under Cornwallis fought American forces under Greene
    British won but suffered heavy casualties
    Cornwallis flees to Yorktown
  • Battle at Yorktown

    Battle at Yorktown

    Victory of Continental Army with the help with the French Army against the British forces led by Cornwallis
    Last battle of the Revolutionary War
  • Cornwallis Surrenders

    Cornwallis Surrenders

    After defeat at Yorktown
    Sends in second in command to hand sword off to Washington-who sends second in command to recieve the sword
  • Treaty of Paris 1783

    Treaty of Paris 1783

    Ends the War between the British and Americans
  • Period: to

    Shay's Rebellion

    A rebellion of debtors who id not recieve anough compensation for the war
    Led to the demise of the Articles of Confederation
  • Period: to

    Philadelphia Convention

    All states except Rhode Island sent delegates
    George Washington president of the convention
    Produced the Consitution
  • Virginia Plan

    Virginia Plan

    Proposed a strong central government and composed of three branches: legislative, judicial, executive at Convention
    James Madison came up with this plan
  • New Jersey Plan

    New Jersey Plan

    William Paterson proposed that we have a one-house Congress in which each state had equal representation
    Supported by smaller states
  • The Great Compromise

    The Great Compromise

    An agreement between large and small states
    Defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have
    Proposed a bicameral structure, resulting in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
  • U.S Consitution Signed

    U.S Consitution Signed

    Establishes strong central government
    James Madison considered "Father of Consitution"
    George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin among people who signed it
  • U.S Consitution Adopted

    U.S Consitution Adopted

    It is adopted when New Hampshire ratifies it